F.-l

Registered Letters. The number of registered letters dealt with, compared with the numbers in 1885, 1887, and 1888, is shown below:—

The registration-fee for all classes of articles was reduced from 6d. to 3d. from September last. Dead Letteks. The number of unclaimed letters received and disposed of during the under-mentioned years is shown in the following table : —

The unclaimed letters dealt with show an increase of 8-2 per cent, compared with the number disposed of in the previous year. Of the total number of letters posted within the colony only 042 per cent, were unclaimed. 33,180 book-packets and circulars were returned to foreign countries, 7,531 were returned to the senders through the Dead Letter Office, and 11,232 were returned by Chief Postmasters ; a total of 51,943 book-packets and circulars, against 31,804 in 1888. The under-mentioned articles of value were found enclosed in letters opened in the Dead Letter Office, and returned to the senders where practicable : — £ s. d. 156 Post Office orders ... ... ... ... ... 571 9 0 86 postal notes ... ... ... ... ... ... 32 10 0 29 bank drafts ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,162 14 9 80 cheques ... ... ... ... ... ... 441 14 1 2 dividend warrants ... ... ... ... ... 825 9 promissory notes ... ... ... ... ... 208 14 2 Stamps ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 15 0 7 Bank-notes ... ... ... ... ... ... 149 0 0 Gold ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 6 10 0 Silver and copper ... ... ... ... ... ... 1121 Representing a total of ... ... £2, 597 7 1 In addition, 1 gold and 3 silver hunting watches, 2 Waterbury watches, 1 silver chain with greenstone pendant, 3 gold rings, 1 horseshoe pin, 2 ladies' gold rings set with stones, 1 greenstone pendant (gold-mounted), 4 silver brooches, 1 pair of gold earrings, 1 pair of silver earrings, greenstone cross, New Zealand war medal, shark's tooth (silver-mounted), and 2 silver thimbles, 888 unclaimed registered letters were dealt with.

XI

1885. 1887. 1888. 1889. Postal Districts. boyond ie™*J» Totals. Placed Ee 8is" Colony. <W«y. Totals. From Places beyond the Colony. Eegistered in the Colony. Totals. From Places beyond the Colony. Registered in the Colon}'. Totals. iuckland [names .. New Plymouth Napier Wangamii Wellington Nelson Westport .. jreymouth Sokitika .. 31enheim Jhristcnuroh rimara Damara .. Dunedin .. [nvercargill 5,890 22,124 28,014 205 2,879 3,084 675 2,876 3,55] 108 922 1,Q3C 892 5,453 G.84E 283 4,500 4,783 4,757 19,218 28.97S 559 2,432 2,991 45 1,438 1,483 125 2,835 2,960 173 1,907 2,080 181 1,413 1,594 3,717 13,678 17,395 440 3,153 3,593 316 1,947 2,263 5,645 12,737 18,382 1,614 6,661 8,275 28,014 3,084 3,551 1,030 6,345 4,783 23,975 2,991 1,483 2,960 2,080 1,594 17,395 3,593 2,263 18,382 8,275 5,996 149 343 81 992 183 5,581 349 39 88 102 113 3,603 405 256 4,172 851 22,743 2,613 2,653 1,736! 6,831| 3,980; 22,U8 2,944 2,318 5,630 1,726 1,514 15,169 2,727 2,356 14,760 7,035 ! 28,739 ! 2,762 I 2,996 I 1,817 7,823 4,168 27,729 3,293 i 2,357 5,724 1,888 1,627 18,772 3,132 2,612 18,932 7,836 7,485 169 831 106 1,008 207 5,138 367 73 157 190 159 4,161 451 353 4,498 1,445 25,205 2,729 2,544 1,513 0,090 3,988 23,036 2,592 2,492 6,258 2,331 1,808 16,250 2,757 2,230 13,079 7,915 32.690 2,898 2,875 1,619 7,698 4,195 28,174 2,959 2,565 6,415 2,521 1,967 20,411 3,208 2,583 18,177 9,360 7,574 152 298 86 1,014 243 5,911 347 93 110 149 101 3,871 373 280 4,480 1,344 26,108 3,389 3,345 1,577 7,782 4,240 25,817 3,123 2,517 9,050 2,490 2,422 17,655 2,547 2,076 14,576 8,874 33,682 3,541 3,643 1,663 8,790 4,483 31,728 3,470 2,610 9,700 2,639 2,523 21,526 2,920 2,356 19,056 10,218 Totals 25,625 142,252 26,298 138,188 164,614 106,173 131,798 23,363 1118,889 124,017 150,315 26,426

Manner of Disposal. 1881. 1882. 1883. 1884. 1885. 1886. 1887. 1888. 1889. Ipened and returned to the ' writers .. .. .. [ 52,038 Returned unopened to other countries .. .. .. 9,372 Reissued .. .. .. ' 159 )estroyed .. .. .. 3,969 Returned unopened by Chief Postmasters .. .. 12,810 53,507 8,539 54 6,189 69,452 8,143 67 3,302 68,942 9,134 107 3,986 66,592 8,115 185 2,872 66,729 8,359 251 6,600 62,847 7,287 96 5,974 I 55,118 62,654 6,892 6,220 88 92 5,246 4,340 14,378 15,833 17,593 19,187 21,144 20,185 19,963 21,164 Totals .. ; 78,348 82,667 96,797 99,702 96,951 103,083 90,389 87,307 94,470